Prologue

'Free Species World,' commonly abbreviated FSW, is currently the most talked-about title among the VR games that have become mainstream worldwide. According to the official website, it's a classic 'sword-and-magic' fantasy game. Its systems use levels for both Jobs and Skills, and it features NPCs equipped with AI that is now no less capable than ordinary humans.

If that were all there was to it, it would be no different from any of the countless VRMMOs out there. However, the reason this game has attracted so much attention is its claim that players can become races other than humanoids. I'm not talking about the standard fantasy fare like elves and dwarves. You can become beasts like dogs and cats, humanoid monsters like goblins and orcs, or even non-humanoid monsters like griffins and slimes. Just as the title says, you can play as a 'free species.'

Phew, that was refreshing.

Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Okada Masashi, and I work for a gray-zone company that makes me work plenty of overtime but at least lets me keep my days off. I hope we'll get along.

My real life doesn't matter! In just a little while, the game I've been waiting for will finally be here! 'Free Species World' is about to launch!

There is a reason I'm so excited despite my age. 'Free Species World' is my first VR title! It will be my first experience with both the hardware and the genre, and I was never much of a gamer to begin with, having only played at a friend's house as a child. So of course all the nerves and excitement have sent my spirits soaring, right? Yes, of course they have!

I failed to get selected in the beta-test lottery, but I managed to reserve a copy during the initial sales period. Since I'm busy with work and may not even be able to play for two or three hours a day, I'm definitely going to be a casual player, but that's fine! For the past six months, I had been looking forward to this game's release with eager anticipation!

Gulp, gulp... Phew! Hydration: check!

I ate dinner as soon as I got home, took a bath, and replenished my fluids with a sports drink. I can safely say that I'm completely ready to log in!

I put on the choker-style device and switched it on. Then I activated the 'Free Species World' icon floating on my retinal display with my gaze!

◆◇◆◇◆◇

The instant it started, I felt a sensation of weightlessness like riding in an old-fashioned elevator. Once that indescribable feeling ended, I found myself floating in outer space, dressed in shabby clothes consisting of an unfashionable shirt and pants.

Ohhh, how beautiful...

A beautiful sea of light stretched above, below, to the left, right, front, and behind me. Below was a planet as blue as Earth, though its continents had completely different shapes. I suppose this must be what the space travel enjoyed by the bourgeoisie is like.

Excuse me?

Hm?

A voice called out to me while I was absorbed in gazing at space. When I turned toward it, I saw a woman who was beautiful—or rather, divine. Her glossy gray hair fell to the backs of her knees, and her jewel-like skin was more translucent than white porcelain, without a single wrinkle or blemish. She had a refined beauty that almost made me lose myself staring at her. And, to top it all off, she wore a black kimono embroidered with red spider lilies. She was exactly my type!

The woman, someone I would probably have fallen in love with at first sight if we had met in the real world, was smiling wryly. H-How embarrassing!

I'm sorry, that was rude of me. Pleased to meet you. I am Okada Masashi. May I ask your name?

Hee hee. How very formal. I am Iifa, a goddess. In terms familiar to players, I am the Comprehensive Management AI.

The Comprehensive Management AI, huh? I once read on some news site that all modern immersive VR titles should be regarded as simulated other worlds. On top of that, Iifa clearly seemed to be equipped with a simulated personality AI, so I supposed I should think of her as the goddess of a simulated other world.

Now then, Okada-sama, I would like you to create your character.

Oh? So this universe is the character-creation field?

Okada-sama, please choose one character name, one Race, one Job, and ten Skills.

Understood.

When I answered, a translucent window appeared before me. The screen showed me in the unfashionable outfit I was currently wearing. I hate to say it myself, but with my generic NPC face, players would probably mistake me for an NPC if I left myself like this.

By default, your Race is 'Human' and your Job is 'Apprentice Warrior.' You may also change the appearance of your avatar from here. I can wait as long as necessary and answer any questions you may have, so please take your time and choose carefully.

Thank you for your consideration. In that case, I shall give it careful thought.

I said I would give it careful thought, but I had actually already decided on my Race and Job. The former would be 'Skeleton,' and the latter would be 'Apprentice Mage.'

That's right. I intend to play as a Skeleton Mage—a monster, or rather, role-play as a villain. If possible, I would like to master the kinds of magic humans would hate. Of course, I have no intention of wantonly harming NPCs that don't respawn—once they're dead, they're gone—and given my work schedule, I would probably end up as a mediocre villain who couldn't beat the top players anyway.

Since I have the chance to become a nonhuman, I should be allowed to cut loose at least inside a game, right?

The problem, however, is my Skills. I have little gaming experience, having only played at a friend's house when I was young, so I have absolutely no idea which Skills work well together or which ones are powerful. I don't know the standard builds.

According to the information released beforehand, I apparently receive points for acquiring Skills, commonly called SP, whenever my Race or Job level increases, so I won't necessarily be limited to just ten. Even so, stumbling at the very first step would be torture. I would prefer to avoid that.

Apparently, the amount of SP required differs for every Skill, and some Skills can evolve by consuming SP once they reach a certain level. Considering that, the opportunity to obtain several Skills without spending any initial SP is precious, so I couldn't afford to make careless choices.

Trying to figure everything out through trial and error would be fun in its own way. But if I'm going to do this, I want to become at least strong enough to scheme behind the scenes as a villain. So I decided to ask the goddess Iifa.

Iifa-sama, may I ask you something?

Yes, what is it?

Actually...

I explained to the goddess that this was the kind of play style I wanted to pursue. To be perfectly honest, it was embarrassing, but I had no regrets. None whatsoever!

Hee hee hee. That's good. Very good.

Oh? I had expected her to laugh at me, but her reaction was surprisingly positive. Her laugh was a little frightening, though. She had what could only be called an evil smile.

If your Race is 'Skeleton' and your Job is 'Apprentice Mage,' the Skills I strongly recommend are 【Linguistics】, 【Archaeology】, 【Alchemy】, 【Dark Magic】, and 【Staff】.

Wha—【Linguistics】 and 【Archaeology】?

Yes. Please choose the remaining one according to your own preference.

What the heck? Are Linguistics and Archaeology really prioritized over magic? Hmm? More importantly...

The remaining one? Aren't there ten Skill slots?

No. Monsters such as Skeletons have Racial Skills, and those fill some of the slots.

What...? Seriously?

By the way, what are those four Skills in the lineup...?

【Night Vision】, 【Status Ailment Immunity】, 【Light Attribute Vulnerability】, and 【Blunt Vulnerability】.

Whoa, so that's how it is! I never imagined my weaknesses would take up Skill slots too...

By the way, if you possess a Skill belonging to a weakness category, you cannot acquire magic of that attribute even by spending SP. However, taking damage from that attribute will cause you to accumulate experience, and you can reduce your vulnerability by leveling up in the same way. Eventually, you may not only overcome your weakness but even gain resistance to it.

How many light-attribute attacks will I have to take before then?

Who knows?

Guh... That smile isn't going to fool me! It must take an astronomical number of hits, right?

Whatever! Even if the road is full of thorns, I will see my original plan through!

Understood. Then I'll take the five Skills Iifa-sama selected... and 【Appraisal】, please.

Iifa-sama looked surprised when she heard me mention 【Appraisal】. Was it really that unexpected?

I thought you would choose attack-oriented magic. May I ask why?

Yes. You chose 【Archaeology】 for me, Iifa-sama, but I thought that alone would only let me identify old things, not everything else.

I see. You chose information over offense. That was a good decision.

Oh, I was praised. Even if she's an AI, being praised by such a beautiful woman feels wonderful.

It seems you have finished choosing your Skills as well. Please apply them to your status.

Understood.

This is the status I ended up with.

――――――――――

Name: Izaam

Race: Skeleton Lv0

Job: Apprentice Mage Lv0

Skills

【Staff】Lv0

【Dark Magic】 Lv0

【Archaeology】 Lv0

【Linguistics】 Lv0

【Alchemy】 Lv0

【Appraisal】 Lv0

【Night Vision】 Lv-

【Status Ailment Immunity】 Lv-

【Light Attribute Vulnerability】 Lv10

【Blunt Vulnerability】 Lv10

――――――――――

Hmm, looking at it like this, I have absolutely no means of attack! I'll have to proceed cautiously during the early stages. Oh, as for the name Izaam, it's based on my real name romanized as MASASI, reversed into ISASAM, and then altered into something that sounded more natural.

Then I grinned at my figure in the window. A Skeleton stood there equipped with the initial gear for an 'Apprentice Mage': tattered clothes and a wooden staff. I was overwhelmed with emotion.

That concludes character creation. Good work.

Ah, thank you. Will there be a tutorial?

There will not be one.

Huh?

The basic training that serves as the tutorial is conducted at the Adventurers' Guild.

The Adventurers' Guild?

However, monsters are targets for the guild's extermination efforts, so you, Izaam-sama, cannot receive the training. In fact, if you try to enter a town, you will be hunted down.

Whaaaaaaaaaat!? Wait, what is this? I can't take the tutorial? I can't enter towns? The whole selling point was that playing as nonhumans was possible, but aren't monster-type players at an absurd disadvantage?

But please don't worry. When you descend into the town of Fars, Izaam-sama, say, 'Mind your step.' If you do, something good is sure to happen.

Wait!

Hold on! You're sending me off just like this!?

Then, off you go.

Waaaaait!

My vision went black.

◆◇◆◇◆◇

Has he gone?

I confirmed that Okada-sama, also known as Izaam-sama, had descended to the coordinates I specified. It seems to have worked, which is a relief.

So the die is cast, I suppose.

Gurunare?

Gurunare, one of the twelve Great Gods—the Comprehensive Management AIs—existing in the world of 'Free Species World,' had appeared behind me before I knew it. She was the Goddess of War and Victory.

Were you spying on my exchange with Izaam-sama?

From the very beginning. Ah, don't get the wrong idea, okay? It was just a coincidence! I had already finished with my assigned player, so when I came over to Iifa's place, I happened to overhear you two.

And are you going to condemn me for it?

By any standard, what I did was out of bounds. An administrator showed favoritism toward an individual.

Nah, I won't. Because I did it too—showed favoritism!

Oh?

A player whom the Goddess of War and Victory would want to favor, huh? Intriguing.

He's such a riot. His very first words were, 'Make me the Race that's the most fun to brawl as!' Pfft...!

I see. Someone you would take a liking to. What did you recommend?

Goblin.

...I see.

Goblins are among the weakest choices available at the start, but if one clears several harsh conditions, one can indeed reach the humanoid Race best suited for close combat.

So, Iifa-chan, what are you expecting from Izaam-kun?

Chaos, of course. If things continue as they are, the balance between humans and monsters will tilt, and a world ruled by humans will come to pass. Wouldn't that be boring?

The weakness-related Skills borne by monster-type starting avatars, combined with the handicap of being unable to receive the tutorial or enter towns... With disadvantages like these, choosing a monster type takes more than mere eccentricity.

In fact, of the fifty thousand players who bought the game at launch, fewer than one in ten chose a nonhuman. And most of those chose ordinary beasts such as dogs and cats rather than monsters. So far, only a little over a thousand have chosen monsters that can only be described as Very Hard mode. This is a serious problem.

Otherwise, this world would be no different from any ordinary, run-of-the-mill game. I cannot allow the world I manage to sink into something commonplace.

Just what you'd expect from the 'Goddess of Death and Chaos.'

Surely Izaam-sama will reach that ultimate state. That's what I bet on.

I see. Then this should get interesting!

We are watching from this divine realm, Izaam-sama. At the very least, we expect you to become a Demon King or something. Please live up to our expectations by making things interesting for us, won't you?